Bud and Flower Problems

Flowers have spots or streaks

Flowers have tiny brown or gray speckles in an irregular or random pattern.

This is a fungal infection usually caused by Botrytis cinerea. Although you can’t rescue the infected flowers, you can treat with an appropriate fungiucide, reduce humidity, keep temperatures above 60F and increase air movement to keep it from sprea...

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Flowers have irregular color streaks or splotches that vary from flower to flower.

This is usually caused by a mosaic virus, but can be an immature plant flowering for the first few times or odd cultural (growing) conditions. Either way, test your plants for viruses and destroy any plants that test positive.

Flowers are physically deformed

Flowers are physically deformed, and may have brown markings or colorless tissue around the edges of the floral segments.

This is usually caused by pests, particularly thrips or mites. Identify the pest, and treat with the appropriate pesticide.

Flower edges are translucent or brown

This can be caused by cold shock, sudden drying of the plant, or abnormal wind exposure but may also indicate a thrips infestation, especially if the problem worsens with time. Check your growing conditions and adjust the environment appropriately.

Flowers face different directions

There is nothing inherently wrong. In some plants, poorly arranged inflorescences may have a genetic component but It should be noted that most orchids, especially Cattleya-types and Vandaceous orchids will orient their flowers in the direction of t...

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Missing or fused flower segments

This is either caused by a genetic mutation, sudden environmental change or excessive high or low temperatures during bud formation. Flower the plant again to confirm.

Flower bud abnormalities

Flowers are not opening properly

Plants do things based on water pressure, and if there’s not enough water, they can’t inflate and open properly. Increase watering and humidity, and watch out for root rot, as that may be a sneaky cause of this issue.

Flower buds are shrivelling and dropping off, usually in a random pattern

This dreaded phenomenon is called “Bud Blast”, and vexes growers, as there are many different potential causes. It can be from: 1. A plant that is not quite mature enough to fully develop its flowers 2. Exposure to Ethylene gas - Ripening fruit and ...

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My orchid isn’t blooming

Too young

an orchid will not bloom if it is too young.

Under-fertilized

if you cannot remember the last time you fertilized, or use the wrong amount or mixture, then the plant will not have the nutrients required to bloom. Additionally, some orchids such as many dendrobiums grow in environments where they wait for the s...

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Improper light level

This is the most common reason orchids will not bloom indoors. Orchids are plants, and plants need light to gain the energy to do things. Remember, plants are living solar panels - the more energy they collect, the more they can do, including makin...

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Temperature requirements

The most common temperature problems for some orchids are either that the day temperatures are too high, or the night temperatures are not low enough. Virtually all orchids are adapted to a daily temperature swing, and for many one extreme or the ot...

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Rest period conditions not met

Some orchids require a break from fertilizer or a reduction in water to rest before they will bloom again. When a rest period is not had, or conditions are too favorable for growth, the plant will continue to put its energy into growth rather than f...

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Other environmental conditions are not met

Although some orchids bloom reliably without any specific needs, there are others that may have environmental conditions that have to be met. Some orchids such as white and pink phalaenopsis will not bloom if the day temperature surpasses 82F/27.7C....

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Orchid is producing keikis instead of blooming

Typical in Dendrobium-types, keikis are formed by the plant when conditions are too uniform and the conditions are not met for a rest period. Under these conditions, the plant will produce vegetative growths rather than flower. Some growers say tha...

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My orchid is blooming, but isn’t as expected

The redness of the flowers this year is slightly different from last year

Red pigment is often temperature-sensitive. In phalaenopsis, warm temperatures can reduce the production of red pigments, making red flowers become purple or yellowish depending on the base color of the floral segments. In cattleyas, redness of a fl...

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The darkness of the flowers this year is slightly different from last year

In the same way that red pigments can be temperature dependent, saturation or darkness can as well. In some orchids, flowers can darken or become more intensely colored with increased heat during flower formation and blooming, and in others, the oppo...

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Harlequin Phalaenopsis

Spots will be larger and more coarse at cooler temperatures, and less coarse or more finely spaced with increased temperatures during flower formation and blooming.

My flowers don't look exactly like the photo of what it was sold as

There is genetic variability among seed-propagated plants, so there may be differences from seedling to seedling, especially in many harlequin-phalaenopsis breeding lines. In mericlones, minor changes in the plants' genetics can occur during the clon...

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Flowers have spots or streaks

Flowers have tiny brown or gray speckles in an irregular or random pattern.

Flowers have irregular color streaks or splotches that vary from flower to flower.

Flowers are physically deformed

Flowers are physically deformed, and may have brown markings or colorless tissue around the edges of the floral segments.

Flower edges are translucent or brown

Flowers face different directions

Missing or fused flower segments

Flower bud abnormalities

Flowers are not opening properly

Flower buds are shrivelling and dropping off, usually in a random pattern

My orchid isn’t blooming

Too young

Under-fertilized

Improper light level

Temperature requirements

Rest period conditions not met

Other environmental conditions are not met

Orchid is producing keikis instead of blooming

My orchid is blooming, but isn’t as expected

The redness of the flowers this year is slightly different from last year

The darkness of the flowers this year is slightly different from last year

Harlequin Phalaenopsis

My flowers don't look exactly like the photo of what it was sold as

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Bud and Flower Problems

Flowers have spots or streaks

Flowers are physically deformed

Flower bud abnormalities

My orchid isn’t blooming

My orchid is blooming, but isn’t as expected

Need More Help?

Orchid Care

FREE ACCESS: Orchid DealWire

You May Be Interested In

Orchid Care

ORCHIDS Magazine

OrchidPro

Webinars

Find a Local Orchid Club

Top Orchid Vendors

Orchid Conservation

Become a Member